▎ 摘　　要

NOVELTY - Production of nano-scaled graphene platelets comprises: contacting a graphite material with molecular or atomic oxygen or a substance capable of releasing molecular or atomic oxygen, to obtain a precursor comprising graphite material functionalized with oxygen groups (FOG) and having carbon/oxygen molar ratio higher than 8:1; and subsequently chemically or physically reducing the FOG precursor to obtain nano-scaled graphene platelets having a carbon/oxygen molar ratio higher than 20:1. USE - The process is useful for producing nano-scaled graphene platelets, which are useful in thermoplastic polymer compositions and expandable thermoplastic polymer nanocomposite compositions (all claimed), where the nanocomposite compositions are useful for producing foams and expanded articles, and in thermal insulation for the building industry. ADVANTAGE - The process provides the nano-scaled graphene platelets more easily on a wide scale and with a lower environmental impact, when compared to conventional processes, where the nano-scaled graphene platelets exhibit improved electronic conductivity, high absorption capacity and radiation emission within the medium-long infrared range, and high dispersibility in polymeric matrices with a low polarity, when compared to the conventional nano-scaled graphite platelets. DETAILED DESCRIPTION - INDEPENDENT CLAIMS are also included for: (1) nano-scaled graphene platelets prepared by the process, having a thickness not greater than 300 nm, an average size not greater than 50 mu m, and a surface area greater than 40 m2/g; (2) compositions (I) based on thermoplastic polymers comprising a polymeric matrix produced by polymerization of a base comprising at least one polymerizable monomer and nano-scaled graphene platelets (up to 30 wt.% with respect to the weight of the polymer); and (3) nanocomposite compositions (II) based on expandable thermoplastic polymers, comprising (a) a polymeric matrix produced by polymerization of at least one polymerizable monomer, (b) 1-10 wt.%, with respect to polymer, of an expanding agent englobed in the polymeric matrix, and (c) 0.004-15 wt.%, with respect to the polymer, of a filler comprising the nano-scaled graphene platelets.